I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 116: For the first child, should I keep the older one or the younger one?

...

According to statistics, the Yellow River burst its banks more than 30 times during the 88 years from the first year of Emperor Taizu of Song's Jianlong reign to the eighth year of Emperor Renzong of Song's Qingli reign.

And this was just before San Yi returned to the river.

After the river changed its course three times, frequent breaches and diversions posed a huge challenge to management work.

Furthermore, the Yellow River flows through multiple regions, leading to conflicts of interest and coordination difficulties in managing the river. Upstream regions may prioritize their own irrigation needs while neglecting downstream flood control, while downstream regions hope that upstream regions will reduce water use to ensure the river's flood discharge capacity. This lack of coordination among regions also hinders Yellow River management.

The key is that controlling the Yellow River requires a lot of manpower, material resources and financial resources.

For example, during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, the Yellow River broke its banks. In order to control the Yellow River, the Zhao Song Dynasty mobilized hundreds of thousands of laborers.

Also during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, the Dushui Wang (King of Water Resources) claimed to have built a 70-li (1,000 li) Jin Dike on the Huihe River, demanding a million strings of cash, or an average of over 14,000 strings of cash per li. However, this only covered the cost of the Jin Dike, not other river control projects or materials.

All of this means that without a capable and capable person to take full responsibility, the Yellow River will definitely not be managed well.

When Zhao Ya wrote historical novels about the Song Dynasty, he wrote about the control of the Yellow River, so he knew that there was a person who could control the Yellow River during this period.

This person is Tang Ke, the prime minister during the reign of Emperor Qinzong of Song Dynasty in history.

In the seventh year of the Zhenghe reign, the Yellow River burst its banks, endangering Bianjing. Tang Ke was ordered to dredge the river, successfully alleviating the flood and earning a promotion to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue for his contributions. While serving in Cangzhou, the Yellow River burst again, sending torrents crashing down upon the city walls. Tang Ke ascended the city walls to repair the flood. Water digger Meng Changling sent a letter requesting ships and soldiers, but Tang Ke refused, citing the fierce flooding, Cangzhou's location on the border, and the emperor's order. Furious, Meng Changling impeached Tang Ke, but he remained unmoved and devoted himself even more to flood control. Eventually, the flood receded, preserving Cangzhou, earning him a commendation from Emperor Zhao Ji. Later, flooding in Tokyo threatened to overwhelm the Bian River, and Tang Ke was tasked with directing the flood control. Some suggested breaching the southern dike to alleviate the threat to the imperial city, but Tang Ke opposed it. Instead, he used a small boat to explore the source and direction of the flood, ultimately breaching the Jin Dike and releasing the water into the Yellow River. After ten days, the flood subsided.

At this time, Tang Ke was just the magistrate of Hebei Transportation, a minor official.

In theory, Zhao Ya should not have let such a small official be responsible for such a big matter as controlling the Yellow River.

But Zhao Ya really didn't know who else could do this job except Tang Ke.

Moreover, Zhang Chun also recommended Tang Ke to Zhao Ya.

So, Zhao Ya took a gamble and transferred Tang Ke, who was just in his early thirties, to the capital.

When Tang Ke learned that Zhao Ya wanted to see him, he rushed from Hebei to Bianliang City in just two days.

Zhao Ya asked Tang Ke if he had any way to control the Yellow River?
Tang Ke, who had not participated in the previous morning court session, gave Zhao Ya a method for controlling the Yellow River that was exactly the same as Zhao Ya's idea.

The only difference is that Tang Ke proposed that the key to dredging the lower reaches of the Yellow River is to restrain water and attack sand, that is, to shrink the river channel and increase the flow rate in the key river channel, while widening the river channel will slow down the water flow and the siltation will become more serious.

Zhao Ya remembered that when he was writing a novel about the management of the Yellow River, two great readers mentioned this precaution in the comment section.

The fact that Tang Ke can give the same opinion is enough to show that Tang Ke can definitely do it.

Zhao Ya didn't waste any time and promoted Tang Ke to be the Du Shui in charge of managing the Yellow River. He also established the Yellow River Dredging Bureau, which was fully responsible for managing the Yellow River.

Zhao Ya also gave Tang Ke a special sword, allowing Tang Ke to mobilize any human and material resources, and made it clear that he was only under the direct leadership of Prime Minister Zhang Dun.

After issuing this imperial edict, Zhao Ya gritted his teeth and directly allocated 3 million strings of special funds to Tang Ke for the management of the Yellow River.

There were some who had their doubts about Zhao Ya's decision and approach. They felt that giving such a small official like Tang Ke so much money all at once was too risky. The key point was that the court still owed many officials a large salary. Couldn't they first give Tang Ke one million coins and use the remaining two million coins to pay everyone else's salaries?
Zhao Ya ignored all the noise.

Zhao Ya knew very well that the imperial court was just a few palaces and government offices. As an emperor, if he failed to distribute the benefits well, these palaces and government offices could change owners.

The distribution of benefits has always been a game of chance. No one is naturally entitled to more, and no one is naturally entitled to less. The emperor, the bureaucrats, the people, who gets more and who gets less, are all involved in the game.

Does the emperor want to take over everyone just because he is the Son of Heaven?

impossible.

The people are the most important, the country is second, and the emperor is the least important. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. These words are specifically used to restrict the emperor. The essence is to let the emperor divide the cake well, or even let the emperor give up the cake that belongs to him, and not be greedy and take more.

Do ordinary people want to take the lion's share just because they are producers?
It is also impossible.

The people can be made to follow it but cannot be made to understand it. The people do not understand the difficulties of the court. These words are specifically used to restrict the people. In essence, they are also to let the people give up the cake and not be greedy and take more.

So the bureaucratic group wants to take the lion’s share just by virtue of their status as managers?
This is even more impossible.

Anti-corruption, party struggles, and factions are all specifically set up to destroy the unity of the bureaucracy. Their essence is to weaken the power of the bureaucracy and prevent it from being greedy and taking more.

In this era, the ones who share the cake are basically these three companies.

Since it is a game, it cannot be stable.

The strength comparison of various forces must be in a constant state of change.

Sometimes the emperor gets more, such as the founding emperors and powerful emperors; sometimes the bureaucrats get more, such as after the dynasties stabilize, the power of the bureaucratic group will surely grow wildly; sometimes the people get more, such as the rebellions that broke out at the end of the dynasties. In fact, it was not because the people got more, but because they smashed the pot at that time.

Up to now, the Zhao Song Dynasty has been established for one hundred and forty years. According to the original historical trajectory, it is in the late Northern Song Dynasty, with stable state power and stable social order.

In this way, the power of the bureaucratic group as the main managers must have expanded rapidly, and they must have gotten the lion's share of the benefits.

The most typical example is that nearly 40% of today's fiscal revenue is used as salaries for officials.

In this situation, let’s not talk about how much Emperor Zhao Ya should get, but if he doesn’t tilt the power more towards the people, the people will rise up and destroy everything.

Zhao Ya was very clear-headed. Although Zhang Dun seemed to have many problems, he was actually the most loyal. He was really carrying out reforms and was really protecting the emperor from the wind and rain. Without the resolute reform power of him and his subordinates to suppress the bureaucratic group, and allowing the bureaucratic group to continue to develop, then the bureaucratic group would have an overwhelming advantage over him as the emperor.

By then, Zhao Ya might not even be as good as Song Renzong, who had to look at the ministers' faces even for taking concubines. Instead, he might become Chongzhen, who had no one to turn to and could only hang himself on Coal Hill.

Therefore, Zhao Ya not only single-handedly protected Zhang Dun, but also visited Zhang Nan for three consecutive days, making his political attitude clear to the world.

As a result, all the conservatives in the old party and the new party, including Cai Jing, who coveted Zhang Dun's position as prime minister, had to restrain themselves. Because they knew very well that with Zhao Ya's support, Zhang Dun was a mad dog who dared to bite anyone.

really!

With Zhao Ya's strong support, Zhang Dun, who had a tough political style, continued to push forward his previous reforms and implement the reform line that Zhao Ya helped him revise after he ascended the throne.

The Zhao Song Dynasty entered a period of stable and rapid reform...

……

It was not until the fifth night after the imperial examination that Zhao Ya came to Zhang Chun's palace again.

Zhang Chun, who had already received the notice, arranged for Li Shishi to lead people to clean the palace inside and outside carefully several times.

Zhang Chun herself had dressed up with great care. She thoughtfully wore a bikini bra made of two palm-sized pieces of colorful fabric, a pair of short shorts that revealed half her buttocks, and an exquisite short cheongsam, revealing her long, straight, white legs.

Zhang Chun dressed herself so deliciously that Zhao Ya was naturally very hungry, so as soon as he entered the house, Zhao Ya hugged Zhang Chun.

Zhang Chun, who had become a real woman, did not hesitate and rode on Zhao Ya's thigh. "My beloved concubine, do you have any complaints about my absence these days?" Zhao Ya asked.

At the beginning, Zhao Ya and Zhang Chun had agreed that if Zhang Chun won the championship, Zhao Ya would give her a son.

But the final result was that Zhang Chun barely got the first place in cultural knowledge by cheating.

The key is that Zhao Ya has already given her the reward for being the first in a single subject.
Later, with the help of Zhao Ya, she managed to get third place.

Zhang Chun knew very well that Liu Mingda was a model set up and shaped by Zheng Xiansu, Zhang Nan was a political necessity, and she was able to get the third place in the palace examination purely because of Zhao Ya's favor, otherwise she would definitely not have won the title of female third place.

Zhang Chun was so grateful to Zhao Ya that he felt he couldn't express it enough, so how could he have any complaints against Zhao Ya?

Zhang Chun hugged Zhao Ya's neck and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty has been very kind to me, so how could I blame you? Besides, your Majesty first favored Zhang Chongrong, supported the Prime Minister, and stabilized the government. This was indeed the best policy. I am not an ignorant woman, so how could I not know what is more important..."

The two whispered to each other for a while, and then Zhao Ya stripped off Zhang Chun's cheongsam.

Seeing the carefully prepared battle robe inside Zhang Chun, Zhao Ya couldn't stop himself and immediately carried Zhang Chun into the bedroom.

After two indescribable fierce battles, Zhao Ya fell into a deep sleep holding Zhang Chun.

The two of them slept until midnight when Li Shishi suddenly knocked on the door gently and said softly, "Master, you are better now."

Zhao Ya opened his eyes and asked, "What's the matter?"

Zhao Ya knew very well that no one would dare to disturb his sleep unless it was something particularly important.

Li Shishi leaned over to Zhao Ya's ear and whispered, "Mrs. Shen is about to give birth, and the emperor may have to make the final decision."

Zhao Ya understood as soon as he heard it. Fuling was most likely having a difficult delivery and might face the dilemma of whether to save the mother or the child. No one else dared to make this decision.

Zhao Ya got up without saying a word.

It was not until Zhao Ya moved that Zhang Chun, who was exhausted last night, woke up slowly.

"Where is the emperor going?" asked Zhang Chun.

"Fuling is about to give birth. I'll go check it out. You can continue to sleep."

After saying that, Zhao Ya quickly put on her clothes and went to Fuling's delivery room with the help of a group of maids.

When Zhao Ya arrived, Zheng Xiansu, Wang Yisu, Guo Ting and many other concubines of Zhao Ya, as well as a large number of imperial doctors, midwives, female officials and palace maids gathered outside Fuling's delivery room.

Seeing Zhao Ya coming, Zheng Xiansu came over and said, "It's been a while, and I didn't dare to make the decision, so I asked someone to invite you here."

Zhao Ya nodded to show that she understood, and then walked out of the delivery room.

Everyone greeted.

Zhao Ya waved his hand and asked everyone to excuse themselves.

This is Zhao Ya's first child in two lifetimes. To be honest, Zhao Ya is a little nervous and a little expectant.

After lingering at the door for a while, Zhao Ya said to Liu Mingda, "Go and call Concubine Ye over."

Zhao Ya had already seen the "Ye Shiyun Medical Canon" (also known as the "Barefoot Doctor's Manual") written by Ye Shiyun, and knew that Ye Shiyun had some knowledge of advanced medical skills, so he sent someone to call Ye Shiyun over, hoping that she could be of use.

Another half hour passed, but Fuling still hadn't given birth to the child. By this time, her cries had become weaker.

Someone nearby was eager to try and persuade Zhao Ya to give up Fuling and save the child.

This was a very normal choice in that era. After all, Fuling was just a low-ranking concubine, and the baby in her belly was a dragon seed.

Seeing this, Zhao Ya did something that surprised everyone - he actually walked towards the delivery room.

Liang Shicheng reacted the fastest. He quickly knelt in front of Zhao Ya and stopped him, saying, "Sir, you must not enter this ominous place!"

Seeing that Zhao Ya was about to enter the delivery room, everyone was terrified. From Zheng Xiansu down, a large group of people knelt down and advised Zhao Ya not to enter the delivery room.

In the eyes of people of this era, some abnormal situations during childbirth, such as babies not crying and pregnant women having difficult labor, were considered to be ominous signs.

In addition, the ancient Taoist book "The True Scripture of Yuanshi Tianzun's Salvation of the Blood Lake" states that the sewage discharged by women during childbirth will pollute the water in streams, rivers, pools and wells. Ordinary people who drink the polluted water and use it to worship gods will blaspheme the gods. Women who commit all these sins should "fall into the blood lake and suffer forever", which has also deepened people's taboos about delivery rooms.

Furthermore, in the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory, women are considered to represent the feminine element, possessing a stronger yin energy. Childbirth involves the discharge of large amounts of blood and fluid, which people of that era believed to be dirty and would attract unclean things, spreading this foul energy throughout the home and bringing bad luck to every family member.

At the same time, the process of childbirth is considered to be a state of imbalance between yin and yang, which is prone to cause various ominous things.

In short, there are many similar statements.

Therefore, men in this era did not enter the delivery room.

As an emperor high above everyone else, Zhao Ya's personal destiny might even be tied to the destiny of the country. Logically, he should not have entered the delivery room.

To be honest, Zhao Ya was not very familiar with Fuling, nor did he have many feelings for her. Fuling was originally just a maid in charge of medicine in the pharmacy. She had little contact with the original owner and Zhao Ya. But during that time, Zhao Ya was in estrus. When he happened to pass by the pharmacy, he saw that Fuling was beautiful, so he went in and had sex with her. Later, Zhao Ya specially asked Fuling to serve him in bed once, and Fuling became pregnant.

In other words, the reason why Zhao Ya visited Fuling was just to satisfy his own physical needs. Talking about emotions would be hypocritical.

However, although he didn't have much affection for Fuling, at this moment Fuling was risking her life to give birth to a child for Zhao Ya, and Zhao Ya really didn't want to let Fuling face this life-and-death moment alone.

But then again, so many people stopping Zhao Ya from entering the delivery room also made Zhao Ya realize that if he acted rashly, it might cause serious harm.

Just imagine, if something unfortunate really happened recently, it might become a topic of conversation for others to attack Zhao Ya, and it might also implicate Fuling and her son.

After all, this is a feudal society.

So, in the end, Zhao Ya, who was more receptive to advice, stopped in front of the delivery room.

Time passed little by little.

Fuling's voice became smaller and smaller, and it seemed that she could no longer scream.

Soon, the midwife came to Zhao Ya and said to him, "Your Majesty, please make the decision."

Zhao Ya understood that the midwife had already determined that Fuling could not give birth to this child, and wanted him to issue an order to give up Fuling and do his best to save the child.

But what the midwife never expected was that Zhao Ya said in a deep voice: "Protect the emperor."

……

(End of this chapter)